Island Mele

By John Berger

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 24, 2008

Very few local recording artists have ever released two separate albums simultaneously. Karen Keawehawai'i overextended herself with "With Love, Karen" and "Have A Merry Karen Christmas" in the 1980s. Sean Na'auao did much better when he released both Hawaiian and Jawaiian albums simultaneously in 2001: Each won a Hoku Award the following year.

Now comes One Right Turn - Connie Cruz, sister Tiffa Cruz Garza, and Tiffa's husband, Imua Garza - introducing itself with what amounts to the simultaneous release of 49 original songs on four full-length separate-sale albums, plus a box set that contains all four.

The lead album, "Lean On My Shoulder," is an impressive debut for the trio. The other three showcase individual members as soloists.

The girls' contribution may not surprise people who remember them as members of The Girlas, and fans will embrace their work here. Imua Garza, a founding member of the Opihi Pickers, is no newbie either, but his work as a singer/songwriter here is a big step beyond the Pickers' repertoire. Take note, for instance, of the guitar riffs that open his album with a pair of bright radio-friendly rockers.

Hot riffs aside, the overall sound here is closer to the Girlas than the Opihi Pickers, and that's all to the good in terms of the trio's chances of national success. There's nothing Hawaiian, let alone Jawaiian going on here, just solid contemporary American pop music. Connie articulates the pain of domestic abuse so effectively that survivors will find solace, while other listeners will condemn the person whose behavior inspired the songs. Imua writes brighter and lighter music, although some of his songs also addresses the darker aspects of romantic relationships. Christian themes percolate through Tiffa's solo album, the final disc in the set.

All in all, One Right Turn sounds like the breakthrough alt-rock pop group Hawaii has been waiting for. Their precedent-setting project is a milestone for the Hawaii recording industry.

One Right Turn has quadruply big debut

By Wayne Harada

One Right Turn, a new vocal trio with deep roots in Island music, makes an auspicious debut with a boxed set of four CDs - one by the group and three solo CDs by each member of the combo.

Imua Garza, formerly of the Opihi Pickers, is a key player here; he also produced all the CDs. His wife, Tiffa Garza, and her sister, Connie Cruz, are siblings of the Cruz brothers who include John, Ernie and Guy Cruz.

It's a historic and impressive cruise by the Garza-Cruz 'ohana. Each disc comes with vital and revealing lyrics and liberal displays of photos, with producer Imua Garza executing a sound package. Reviews follow, but for more information, go to www.onerightturn.com or www.megapress.com. On the latter site, click on One Right Turn.

"Lean on My Shoulder" by One Right Turn; One Hawaii

- Genre: World music, contemporary.

- Distinguishing notes: One Right Turn is not a traffic advisory; it is a musical family offering a tuneful journey on the highway of life.

The members write music as a collaborative team and alone. One Right Turn is ambitious in that a major four-disc box set marks the debut of the group and also showcases the three individuals with solo CDs that magnify the wonder of their new music.

The disc is ballad-strong, largely about the vagaries and vitality of love, poised with listener-friendly elements.

Among the 12 tracks by the group, several stand out:

- "Lean on My Shoulder," a Tiffa Garza original, with a sweet and accessible solo voice, that offers solace in a time of need - a very personal and personable message suited for these stressful times.

- "Look Across the City," an Imua Garza composition, a folksy, guitar-accompanied postcard about the need for love in a fulfilled life.

- "Letter," another Tiffa lament of unrequited love, with a plea for honesty despite the hurt.

- "Played Out," a Connie Cruz creation, explores the pain of a relationship, and an unstated call for healing.

- Our take: An impressive debut by a prolific 'ohana with a touch-the-soul acoustic posture - and a bright future.